Beach chair



Dec. 2, 1941. H. KLEINBERG BEACH CHAIR- Filed Oct. 18, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I Fl 5 x IINVENTOR.

BY l A ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. H. KLEINBERG vBEACH CHAIR Filed Oct. 18, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 74 NVENTOR.

) ATTo RNEY.

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 BEACH CHAIR Harry Kleinberg, Brooklyn, N. Y.Application October 18, 1940, Serial No. 361,746

Claims.

This invention relates generally to chair construction, and moreparticularly to an improved beach or lawn chair.

My improved beach chair comprises a main frame adapted to rest on theground; and a back frame, pivotally mounted on the main frame andcovered with suitable material-to provide a' back rest. A seat isstretched between a cross-bar on the back frame and one arranged onarmspivoted in the main frame. When the chair. is set up for use the seatsection is located somewhat above the main frame, above the ground.Novel seat supporting levers associated with the pivoted arms come intoaction to fixedly support the seat when in the set up condition.

The back section is arranged to be folded onto the main frame. When mynovel beach chair is folded, its thickness does not exceed the thicknessof the main frame. The back frame as well as the seat supporting leversand arms are housed well within the main frame. The particularconstruction of the levers connected with the seat supporting arms makesthe folding and the setting-up of the chair particularly simple. In itsfolded state the improved chair can be easily carried or stored,requiring a minimum of space.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide animproved collapsible beach chair of light weight, compact, strong, anddurable construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a beach chair of the typereferred to, which is very flat and compact when folded up.

A further object of the'invention is to provide an improved collapsiblechair which can be readily folded and unfolded by simple swinging of itsback frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved beachchair having a guided seat supporting lever construction, facilitatingfolding and unfolding of the chair.

These and further objects of the invention will become more evident inthe following description of a preferred embodiment illustrated in thedrawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing the chair set up for use.

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l on anenlarged scale, with some parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale,showing a detail of the chair construction. I

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged end views showing the seat supporting leverin difierent positions with respect to the seat.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5, showing details ofmounting of the seat supporting cross-rod.

. Fig. '7 is a perspective View of the chair in its folded up position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing my improved chair comprises amain frame generally designated at H), and a back frame generallydesignated at l l. The main frame has two side bars l2, 13 which areconnected by the substantially flat cross-bar l4 mounted at the forwardendsthereof- Back frame ll comprises two side bars I5, l6 pivotallymounted by bolts on main frame sidebars I2, I 3, respectively. Backframe side bars 15. and I6 are connected by cross bar l8- As clearlyshown in Fig. 1, cross bar 18 is secured to the. rearside of side bars15 and I6 and protrudes a certain distance on both sides thereof for thepurpose to be described. Two

.hooked bars 20, 20 are pivotally connected at 2| to respective bars l5,iii of frame H, and preferably consist of flat metal members. Bars 20,20 each have a slot I9'adapted toengage a bolt 22 provided at the. rearend of frame side bars 12, I3.

' Cross rod 24 extends between back frame side bars [5, l6 and isarranged at some distance above mainframe I 0 so that the seat sectionsupported thereby may be situated above ground. ,Since there are no legson the beach chair of the invention in which main frame Ill rests di-,.rectly on the ground, this factor is important to the comfort of theuser.

Two arms 25, 25 are individually pivotally connected at.,23 to mainframe side bars l2, I3. The ends of arms 25 support cross rod 25. Twolevers 21, 21. are respectively pivoted at 29 on main frame side barsl2, [3, between main frame It and arms 25. Two connecting levers 28, 28are pivotally mounted at 35 and 3| between arms 25 and levers 21.

A sheet 32 of canvas 01' other suitable flexible materialis'supported bycross rods 24 and 26 to constitute the seat section. Seat 32 is securedon its supporting cross rods 24 and 26 by means of hems or othersuitable fastening method. Another sheet 34, which may also consistof'canvas or any other suitable fabric, is fastened or. tacked ontoframe side bars [5 and I6, as indicated at 35 in Fig. '7.

The manner of pivotally mounting back frame I I on main frame It isshown in Fig. 3. A spacer ring 36 is provided between main frame sidebar I3 and back frame bar I6. Another spacer 36 is arranged between mainframe side bar I2 and back frame bar I5. Each of the rings 36, 36 isfaced with two metal washers 31, 31 to reduce the bearing friction. Thisarrangement enables the housing of bars 20, as well as levers 21,between back frame II and main frame In when the chair is folded up.

Each of the levers 27, 21 has a projecting arcshaped end portion 40 asclearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As shown more particularly in Fig. 6,seat supporting cross rod 26 is secured to pivotal arms 25 by means of acounter-sunk screw 4I.

Protective metal rings 42 are secured at the endsof cross rod 26. Whenthe arms 25, 25 are swung in a counterclockwise direction from thefoldedup position or from the semi-folded position of Fig. 5, to theset-up position of Fig. 4, the end portion 40 of each lever 21 bearsagainst its associated ring 42 on cross rod 26. The position of Fig. 4corresponds to the chair as set-up ready for use.

The weight of the person seated on seat 32 tends .to pull cross rod 26toward back frame I I. Arms 25 are prevented to rotate further in thecounterclockwise direction by the supporting and abutting action oflevers, 21, 21. At the same time, opposite cross rod 24 is impelled tothe right, in the direction towards the front of the seat. This pull istaken up by links 20, 20 hooked onto bolts 22,. '22 in the frame Ill.Thus, links 20, 20 and levers 21, 21 support the seat of the chair inthe set-up position of Fig. 1, against the weight of a person seatedthereon.

In order to fold the beach chair, links 26, 2 are unhooked from bolts22, and back frame I I is swung in a clockwise direction until it isflush with main frame I0. Links 20, 26 are then respectively locatedbetween side bars I2, l and side bars I3, I6. Cross rod 26 is thenrotated in a clockwise direction until it presses against main framecross bar I4, as shown in Fig. 7. Cross bar I4 thus serves as a stop forcross rod 26. Levers 2I follow arms 25 due to their interconnection bylinks 28.

Levers 21 are thereupon arranged between main frame side bar I2 and backframe side bar I5, as well as between main frame side bar I3 and backframe side bar I6. The protruding portion of back frame cross bar I8presses against the upper surface of main frame side bars I2 and I3,thus preventing further rotation thereof. The length of back frame I Iis such that, when folded, back frame cross bar I8 does not extend asfar as seat supporting cross rod 26.

The back frame II, as well as seat supporting cross rod 26 with its arms25 and levers 21 are thus housed well within main frame I I], in thefolded up position of the chair. The combined thickness of an arm 25, alever 21 and an associated connecting member 28 does not exceed thethickness of one spacer ring 36. Either of the two cross bars I4 and I8may be used to grip the folded chair for carrying. By pressing cross barI8 against main frame side bars I2 and I3, unfolding of the chair isprevented.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the details ofconstruction of the invention without departing from the broader spiritand scope thereof, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A chair of the character described comprising a main frame adapted torest on the ground, a back frame pivotally connected near one end ofsaid main frame and containing a first cross rod, means connecting themain frame and back frame for holding the latter at a predeterminedangle to the former when erected, a pair of arms pivoted on oppositeside of said main frame, a second cross rod spaced from said first crossrod and supported between the free ends of said arms, a seat of flexiblematerial extending between said first and second cross rods, a pair oflevers pivoted on said main frame adjacent each of said arms, the freeends of said levers projecting to bear against said second cross rodwhen it is swung above the plane of said main frame, and links pivotallyjoining the associated levers and arms, whereby said levers follow theswinging motion of said arms and second cross rod to support it in theupper position.

2. A chair of the character described comprising a main frame adapted torest on the ground, a back section pivotally connected with and foldableinto said main frame, a hooked connecting member for connecting saidback section to said main frame at a predetermined angular relationthereto, a first cross rod extending across said section, a pair of armspivoted on said main frame, a second cross rod spaced from said firstcross rod and supported between the free ends of said arms, a flexiblesheet fastened between said first and second cross rods to form a seatsection, a pair of levers pivoted on said main frame, the free ends ofsaid levers being arranged to bear against said second cross rod when itis swung out of the plane of said main frame, and two members pivotallyconnecting each of said arms with its associated lever whereby saidlevers follow the swinging motion when said arms and second cross rodare swung about.

3. A chair of the character described comprising a main frame adapted torest on the ground, said main frame comprising two side bars and aconnecting crossbar at one end of said side bars, a back sectionpivotally connected at the opposite end of said main frame embodying twoside bars and a second cross bar, said section being foldable into saidmain frame, hooked means holding said section to said main frame in apredetermined extended relation, a first cross rod extending betweensaid back frame side bars and arranged above the pivots thereof, a pairof arms pivoted on said main frame side bars, a second cross rod spacedfrom said first cross rod and supported between the free ends of saidarms, a flexible seat fastened between said first and second cross rods,a lever pivoted on each of said main frame side bars, the free ends ofsaid levers being adapted to bear against said second cross rod when itis swung out to above the plane of said main frame, links pivotallyconnecting each of said arms with one of said levers, said main framecross bar serving as a stop for said second cross rod, the protrudingends of said back section cross bar bearing against said main frame sidebars when the chair is in its folded up position.

4. A chair of the character described compris ing a main frame adaptedto. rest on the ground, a back section pivotally connected with saidmain frame, hooked flat bar means pivotally mounted on said section andadapted to be hooked onto said main frame, a first cross rod on saidsection and arranged above the pivots thereof, a pair of arms pivoted onsaid main frame, a second cross rod spaced from said first cross rod andsupported between the free ends of said arms, flexible material fastenedbetween said first and second cross rods to form a seat section, a. pairof levers pivoted on said main frame between its arms and said backsection, the free ends of said levers being arc-shaped and arranged tobear firmly against said second cross rod when it is swung above theplane of said main frame and against said levers, and links pivotallyconnecting each of said arms with one of said levers, whereby saidlevers follow the swinging motion of said arms and said second cross rodto firmly maintain the seat in the set-up position against said leverends.

5. A chair of the character described comprising a main frame adapted torest on the ground and including two side bars and a cross barconnecting the extreme ends thereof, a back section pivotally connectedwith said main frame comprising two side bars and a cross bar arrangedat the ends thereof and protruding therefrom, a spacer ring arranged atthe pivots between each of said section side bars and its adjacent mainframe side bar, a hooked bar pivotally mounted on said backing frame andadapted to be hooked onto said main frame when the back section isextended, a first cross rod extending between said section side bars andarranged above the ivots thereof, a pair of arms pivoted on said mainframe side bars, a second cross rod spaced from said first cross rod andsupported between the free ends of said arms, flexible material fastenedbetween said first and second cross rods to form a seat section, a pairof levers pivoted on said main frame side bars between said arms and theback section, the free ends of said levers being arranged to abut saidsecond cross rod when it is swung out of the plane of said main frameand against said lever, links pivotally connecting each of said armswith its associated lever, said main frame cross bar serving as a stopfor said second cross rod, the protruding ends of said back sectioncross bar bearing against said main frame side bars when the chair is inits folded up position; said arms, levers and hook bar being arranged tofit into the space between said main frame side bars and said backsection side bars when the chair is folded up.

HARRY KLEIN'BERG.

